Dutch and German police on Saturday arrested five people suspected of preparing a terrorist act in the Netherlands.
Dutch police said in a statement that four suspects were detained in Rotterdam and officers searched multiple locations.
The statement said the investigation would continue to determine the nature and scale of the alleged threat. It provided no details.
In neighbouring Germany, police announced the arrest of a Syrian man suspected of involvement in preparations for a terror attack in the Netherlands.
Police said the 26-year-old was arrested Saturday in the western city of Mainz following an extradition request from the Netherlands. They didn't name him.
A statement from police said the suspect has neither an official residence nor a criminal record in Germany. The apartment where he was found was searched.
German police said they couldn't give further details, which they said are a matter for the police in the Dutch city of Rotterdam who are leading the investigation.

5 arrested in suspected Dutch terror attack plot

PTI Automatic

US President Donald Trump on Saturday blamed opposition Democrats for the death of two immigrant children in US custody, comments set to heighten tensions as the second week of a government shutdown began over his demands for a border wall.
"Any deaths of children or others at the Border are strictly the fault of the Democrats and their pathetic immigration policies that allow people to make the long trek thinking they can enter our country illegally. They can't. If we had a Wall, they wouldn't even try!" Trump said on Twitter.
His comments came after the separate deaths of two Guatemalan children, aged seven and eight, who crossed the border illegally with relatives who were taken into custody by US Border Patrol.
The tweet hardened his tone after an earlier message on Twitter Saturday which said the next move in the eight-day budget standoff over border wall funding belonged to the Democrats.
"I am in the White House waiting for the Democrats to come on over and make a deal on ...

Trump blames Democrats for migrant children's death, amid govt budget impasse

A Swiss man living in Morocco was arrested in Marrakesh on Saturday, for alleged links to suspects in the recent murder of two female Scandinavian hikers, authorities said.
The man is "suspected of teaching some of those arrested in this case about communication tools involving new technology and of training them in marksmanship", Morocco's central office for judicial investigations said in a statement.
The counter-terror organ added he subscribed to "extremist ideology" and also has Spanish citizenship.
The ongoing investigation into the double murder uncovered the man was involved in the "recruitment of Moroccans and sub-Saharans to carry out terrorist plans in Morocco", the statement said.
Danish student Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, and 28-year-old Norwegian Maren Ueland were found dead at an isolated hiking spot in the High Atlas mountains, south of Marrakesh on December 17.
The two women were beheaded, authorities have said.
Ahead of Saturday's arrest, Moroccan authorities ...

Morocco arrests Swiss man over links to hiker murder suspects

A Swiss man living in Morocco was arrested in Marrakesh on Saturday, for alleged links to suspects in the recent murder of two female Scandinavian hikers, authorities said.
The man is "suspected of teaching some of those arrested in this case about communication tools involving new technology and of training them in marksmanship", Morocco's central office for judicial investigations said in a statement.
It said he subscribed to "extremist ideology" and also had Spanish citizenship.

Morocco arrests Swiss man linked to hiker murder suspects: Authorities

US President Donald Trump on Saturday blamed opposition Democrats for the death of two immigrant children who died in US custody, in comments set to heighten tensions as the second week of a government shutdown began over his demands for a border wall.
"Any deaths of children or others at the Border are strictly the fault of the Democrats and their pathetic immigration policies that allow people to make the long trek thinking they can enter our country illegally. They can't. If we had a Wall, they wouldn't even try!" Trump said on Twitter.
His comments came after the separate deaths of two Guatemalan children, aged seven and eight, who crossed the border illegally with relatives who were taken into custody by US Border Patrol.

Trump blames Democrats for children's border deaths

Several hundred people demonstrated Saturday in central Italy, against a planned "Academy for the Judeo-Christian West" backed by US political strategist Steve Bannon.
President Donald Trump's former aide in September vowed to set up "war rooms" across Europe to help form a pan-continental right-wing movement ahead of European Parliament elections in 2019.
Local activists and a network of associations protested against the plan in the village of Collepardo, expressing their views behind banners that read "Stop Bannon, Free Europe," and "Trisulti, European land."
The village lies close to the Trisulti charterhouse, a former Carthusian monastery now leased to the Catholic institute Dignitatis Humanae (DHI), a group close to conservative US cardinal Leo Burke and Bannon.
DHI plans to offer classes at the site east of Rome "to transmit Steve Bannon's thoughts to the next generations," founder Benjamin Harnwell told the Italian-language daily La Stampa.
He said the project had many ...

Bannon-backed academy plan draws Italian protest

Sierra Leone's former defense minister has been arrested by for alleged corruption in a deal to procure military supplies, an anti-corruption commission said Saturday, the latest former government figure to be nabbed in a sprawling graft probe.
Alfred Paolo Conteh was detained along with Sannah Marrah, the defence ministry's former director general, at the Criminal Investigation Department on Friday. Both are awaiting charges, the Sierra Leone Anti Corruption Commission said.
The commission said officials are investigating allegations of corruption over procurement of military vehicles, uniforms and rice in 2015. The procurement contract was reported to be worth USD 10 million.
"We are recovering monies stolen from our people," anti-corruption commissioner Joseph Ben Kelfalla told reporters in Freetown, adding that authorities had recovered more than one million dollars from corrupt officials.
Most of the military supply deals were done in China, according to a report published in ...

Former S Leone defense minister arrested for alleged graft

Parts of the US were digging out Saturday from winter storms that media reports said led to at least seven deaths, while warmer regions braced for potential flooding during the New Year's travel period.
Hardest hit were parts of the northern Plains, the upper Midwest, and a southwestern region from Arizona to western Texas.
As storm clouds moved east, they were set to bring heavy rain and probably flooding to the Gulf Coast, and both rain and freezing rain to New England.
Flight tracker FlightAware reported more than 129 flight cancellations and 1,006 delays Saturday -- down from more than 500 cancellations and 5,700 delays on Friday -- as the winter storm hit north-central and Midwestern states with up to 12 inches (30 centimetres) of snow.
In the southwestern state of New Mexico, forecasters called for up to 18 inches, with temperatures far below normal, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
Southeastern states braced for a deluge of rain, and millions in the South were warned of 

US winter storms kill seven: Media

Airport traffic was suspended at Hanover airport on Saturday after a car crashed through a barrier onto the runway, police said.
"A security incident occurred at Hanover airport around 15h40 (14H40 GMT). A man broke through a barrier in a car which went onto the runway," Hanover police said on Twitter.
The man, whose car was registered in Poland, was quickly arrested and is being questioned.
Check-in for some flights remained suspended as of 1830 GMT while police investigated.
Part of terminal A was closed but the two other terminals were open, police told German news agency DPA.
Incoming flights were being diverted to other airports.

Flights suspended at Hanover airport after car on runway

The leaders of both the United States and China want "stable progress" in ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a phone call on Saturday with his American counterpart Donald Trump.
The Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying China and the US are working to implement the terms of the trade war truce reached between the two leaders earlier this month.
During the call, Xi expressed the hope that "both teams can meet each other halfway and reach an agreement beneficial to both countries and the world as early as possible", according to Xinhua.
Washington and Beijing have imposed tit-for-tat tariffs on more than $300 billion worth of goods, and the bruising trade conflict has spooked markets worldwide.
Relations between the world's top two economies are "now in a vital stage", Xinhua quoted Xi as saying during the Trump call.
"China attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations and appreciates the willingness of the US side to develop cooperative and ...

Xi says China, US want 'stable progress' on ties in Trump call

A rescue helicopter crashed on Saturday in the emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah, killing all crew members, according to the United Arab Emirates state news agency WAM.
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al-Qasimi, ruler of Ras Al-Khaimah, ordered an investigation into the incident that took place at 5:50 pm (1350 GMT).
"The General Civil Aviation Authority announced the crash of an Agusta 139 helicopter during a rescue mission in Jebel Jais in Ras al-Khaimah," said the report.
It was not immediately clear how many crew members were on board.  The UAE comprises the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain.

Rescue crew killed in helicopter crash: UAE media

Congo's presidential election takes place on Sunday after more than two years of delays. Protests , an opposition outcry and the surprise barring of 1 million voters from the polls over an Ebola outbreak marked the final days of preparations.
The country faces what could be its first peaceful, democratic transfer of power as President Joseph Kabila, who took office in 2001, steps aside. Some observers, however, fear further unrest. The election commission chief has worried openly about rebels shooting voters waiting at the polls.
With political activities banned in the capital, Kinshasa, in the final days, residents instead gathered at newsstands to fiercely debate the fate of a country wealthy in minerals crucial for the world's smartphones and electric cars and yet desperately underdeveloped.
With the top candidates largely unknown until months ago, there is much to discuss.
Kinshasa's governor banned political activities in the vibrant opposition stronghold as leading candidate ...

Congo on Sunday faces a troubled, long-delayed election

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen went to an Arizona border city Saturday on the second day of a southwest tour following the recent death of another Guatemalan migrant child in US government custody.
DHS spokeswoman Katie Waldman said Nielsen was in Yuma, Arizona, but gave no other details. Earlier in the week, Waldman had said that Nielsen would meet at the Mexican border with emergency medical technicians and medical professionals, as well as local officials.
Nielsen went to El Paso, Texas, on Friday but the visit was closed to the media and no further information was provided by the department.
Late Friday, El Paso Mayor Dee Margo confirmed he was among those who met with Nielsen, saying they discussed "our immigration needs on the border." The statement from Margo, a Republican, did not mention the deaths of migrant children or whether it was discussed.
The trip came days after the death of 8-year-old Felipe Gomez Alonzo. Felipe was the second Guatemalan child to die ..

Nielsen visits Arizona city on 2nd day of border tour

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said "big progress" is being made on trade talks with China, following a long telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
The US has imposed punitive tariffs on Chinese goods worth USD 250 billion per year. In retaliation, China imposed tariffs on USD 110 billion of American goods. A standstill agreement reached between Trump and Xi on the margins of the G20 summit at Buenos Aires in November 30 and December 1 deferred the imposition of tit-for-tat tariffs by the two countries till March 1 to allow for negotiations.
"Just had a long and very good call with President Xi of China. Deal is moving along very well. If made, it will be very comprehensive, covering all subjects, areas and points of dispute. Big progress being made!" Trump tweeted.
After the two countries agreed to resolve their trade disputes in 90 days, American and Chinese officials held several round of telephonic calls over the last few weeks. Details of the ...

'Big progress' with China on trade, says Trump

Steven Gerrard emerged victorious in the Old Firm clash with his former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers as Rangers deservedly beat champions and bitter rivals Celtic 1-0 on Saturday.
It was Rodgers first experience of defeat in 13 meetings with Rangers and puts Gerrard's side level on points with Celtic, though the latter stay top courtesy of a better goal difference. Celtic also have a game in hand.
Ryan Jack's deflected goal on the half-hour mark proved the difference in a match that Rangers largely dominated against a strangely out-of-sorts Celtic.
The visitors were only supported by 750 of their fans as Rangers had slashed their usual ticket allowance of 7,000.
A delighted Gerrard, whose decision to take the job is bearing fruit thusfar despite many questioning the wisdom of his choice, said the victory was for the fans who had endured years of frustration.
"The players to a man were outstanding, all over the pitch," Gerrard told Sky Sports.
"We were better to a man, we were the ...

Gerrard ends former boss Rodgers' Old Firm dominance

Cambodia's long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen has inaugurated a monument marking the 1998 end of the threat from the communist Khmer Rouge movement, which ruinously ruled the country in the late 1970s and then carried on a guerrilla war.
The monument just north of Phnom Penh is dedicated to what Hun Sen called his "Win-Win Policy," which saw the last two top Khmer Rouge leaders surrender in December 1998, eliminating it as a political force and security threat.
Hun Sen had once served with the Khmer Rouge, which seized power after a bloody 1970-75 civil war.
He defected in 1977 to Vietnam, whose invasion ousted the Khmer Rouge from power in 1979. In 1985, he became prime minister, and this year vowed to serve 10 more years in office.

Cambodian PM dedicates monument to his defeat of Khmer Rouge

Russia on Saturday announced a ban on dozens of imported products from Ukraine in its latest economic sanctions targeting Kiev.
The products to be banned included chocolate, wheat and beer as well as sunflower oil, bread, jam, children's nappies and wine, the government said in a statement.
The ban would come into force immediately, it said, adding that it had been imposed due to "unfriendly acts by Ukraine".
Relations between Moscow and Kiev have deteriorated since a pro-Western government came to power after the 2014 revolt against a pro-Russian leader, Moscow's annexation of the Crimea and the outbreak of war in eastern Ukraine.
A total of 567 individuals and 75 Ukrainian companies have been targeted by Russian economic sanctions, which put a freeze on any assets they have in Russia. The figure includes 250 people and businesses added on Tuesday.
Since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, Kiev has also taken a series of measures against Russian interests, including blocking Russian ...

Russia slaps ban on dozens of Ukrainian products

Thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets in the capital of Madagascar on Saturday to protest against the victory of ex-president Andry Rajoelina in last week's elections.
Around 2,000 supporters of defeated candidate Marc Ravalomanana gathered in the May 13 Square in the heart of Antananarivo, demanding a recount of the vote in the Indian Ocean island state.
The protest, the first in a series of planned demonstrations, came as the country's top court reviews a petition filed by Ravalomanana challenging Rajoelina's win because of fraud allegations.
Opposition lawmaker Hanitra Razafimanantsoa, told the crowd gathered in the square that if there's a vote recount "you will find that our candidate Marc Ravalomanana won this election".
Supporters of Ravalomanana, who came second in the December 19 run-off, are planning to stage daily protests in the square, until the High Constitutional Court formally pronounces the winner.
"We will come here every day, from January 2, 2019", .

Opposition protests over Madagascar vote result

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as voracious Italian champions Juventus finished 2018 on a high with a 2-1 win over Sampdoria to set a new record of 53 points before the winter break.
Ronaldo curled in the opener after just two minutes in Turin adding a second from the penalty spot after 66 minutes, putting the Portuguese top of Serie A's scoring charts on 14 goals.
Evergreen Sampdoria striker Fabio Quagliarella pulled the Genoa outfit level with a penalty after 33 minutes, with the visitors having a late Riccardo Saponara goal ruled offside after consultation with the video assistant referee.
VAR proved decisive in the game with Sampdoria coach Marco Giampaolo, dismissing Ronaldo's penalty as "a gift," adding "that Saponara goal should never have been cancelled".
"Juventus are strong, they consume everything. They are a cannibal," said Giampaolo.
"For me, morally, the game was 2-2."
Juventus open up a 12-point lead at the top of Serie A ahead of Napoli who can reduce the gap when they 

Ronaldo double seals new record for voracious Juventus

Cyprus police rescued five injured crew from the water following an explosion on a Maltese-flagged oil tanker off the island's south coast on Saturday, authorities said.
Two Indian crew were taken to the capital Nicosia for treatment for burns of between 30 and 70 percent, the head of the Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), Andreas Charalambides, told reporters.
The other three, all Greek citizens, had symptoms of hypothermia and were briefly hospitalised in the island's main port of Limassol before being discharged, he said.
The remaining crew managed to put out the fire but the Athlos tanker was listing some 200 metres (yards) off the fishing village of Zygi, the JRCC said.
The ship was carrying around 100 tonnes of fuel for its own use but the rescue centre scrambled boats to contain any oil spill. There was no other dangerous cargo on board.
The Athlos had been headed from the island to Greece with a crew of 17 -- one Georgian, seven Greeks and nine Indians.

Cyprus rescues five crew after explosion on oil tanker

Ruth Strauss, whose cancer diagnosis prompted her husband Andrew Strauss to step down from his role as England's director of cricket, has died, her family announced in a statement on Saturday.
The statement said Ruth had died aged 46 of the rare form of lung cancer she suffered from in her home country of Australia.
Strauss, a former England cricket captain, announced in early October he was standing down permanently as the national side's director of cricket following a period of compassionate leave.
Ruth was diagnosed with cancer during the Ashes in December 2017 and he took a break from his position earlier this year after she began a new course of treatment.
"It is with great sadness and immense grief that we have to announce that Ruth passed away today as a result of her rare lung cancer," read the statement issued by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on behalf of the Strauss family.
"Sam, Luca and I will miss her terribly.
"Anyone who has met Ruth will know how loving, ..

Page 3703 - PTI Stories National